NATO and Afghan forces have killed dozens of Taliban militants in the
latest battle for a remote district in central Afghanistan.

Afghan officials say Friday's airstrikes, in the remote Ajristan district of Ghazni province, killed more than 40 militants.

The
fighters took over the Ajristan district on Monday, one in a series of
missions targeting remote areas. Officials say the airstrikes are part
of a three-day long campaign to force the militants out.

Afghan
officials also said Friday three Taliban militants were killed after
they attacked a police checkpoint in southern Helmand province.

The fighting comes as German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier made an unannounced trip to the western city Herat.

Steinmeier is expected to transfer responsibility for rebuilding the city's water-supply infrastructure to Afghan officials.

Germany has pledged more than $1.7 billion for civilian reconstruction projects in Afghanistan through 2010.

Also
Friday, Danish officials said a Danish soldier was killed when his tank
hit an improvised explosive device. Denmark has 550 soldiers serving
in Helmand province.

Meanwhile, the British Defense Ministry
says one of its soldiers was killed during a firefight with militants
in Helmand province on Thursday. Six other British soldiers were
injured and a bomb-sniffing dog was killed.

The death brings the total number of British troops killed in Afghanistan to 112.